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Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2517 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Stretch Decorating Dollars Tips On Fighting Playground Infections (NAPSA)—There’s good news for parents who want to do more to help keep their family healthier. There are simple, practical steps they can take to help fight and prevent common infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger are treated for playground-related injuries annually. Having first-aid essentials on hand, both in and outside your home, will help you be better prepared. Here are some tips: Steps to Better Healing Even the most minor cuts and scrapes can be easily contaminated with dirt and germs, which can lead to painful infections. To properly treat minor wounds, always be sure to follow these simple steps: • Clean: Thoroughly clean the affected area with mild soap and water. • Coat: Treat your wound with long-lasting infection protection such as NEOSPORIN First Aid Antibiotic Ointment. Studies show that using this kind of ointment and a bandage helps heal minor wounds faster than with a bandage alone. • Cover: Protect the wound from further damage by covering it with a bandage. Preventing Injuries on the Playground According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than three-quarters of school-related injuries occur on public playground equipment. Many of these injuries can be pre- To properly treat minor wounds and prevent infection, follow the Three Cs: Clean, Coat and Cover. vented by following these simple rules: • Supervise children at all times. • Establish rules about behavior. • Ensure that children are playing with children in the same age range and with age-appropriate playground equipment. When minor injuries do happen outside the home, have on-hand bandages and a topical antibiotic or antiseptic spray. Expired Medicine Cabinet Medicine cabinets should be stocked with up-to-date first-aid supplies. Unfortunately, they often become a wasteland of expired products that may lose their potency over time. Consider organizing your medicine cabinet shelves according to the product’s shelf life, grouping together products based on the expiration dates. Check all dates regularly and restock as necessary. For more information, visit www.neosporin.com. (NAPSA)—A new home at the old address can be easy and economical to achieve when you change the look of wooden cabinets, furniture and doors yourself. Here are hints on how: • Make sure you have drop cloths, rags, sandpaper and paper towels. • Carefully read all label directions before you start. • To save time and trouble, look for a wood stain and finish in one that offers rich color and the beauty of a hand-rubbed look. • Try a water-based product for ease of application, quick drying time and soap and water cleanup. Changing the look of your wooden cabinets, moldings, furniture and doors can be an easy and inexpensive way to spruce up your home for yourself or for sale. The leading manufacturer of wood finishing products now has a one-step product that is low odor and water-based and provides beautiful results. You just apply Minwax Water Based WoodSheen to the raw wood of furniture, molding, cabinets and doors, wipe off the excess and you’re done. The surface dries in an hour. The thicker gel consistency is especially handy for vertical surfaces, helping control drips and runs. For more wood finishing tips and project ideas, visit minwax.com. Winning The War Against Cancer (NAPSA)—There’s encouraging news in the fight against cancer. Not only are researchers learning more about what causes cancer, but new medications are being developed to treat it. America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies have made great progress in treating cancers, introducing many new, breakthrough medicines to help fight the disease. Scientists are currently working on over 750 new medicines to help doctors and patients battle cancer. These medicines are either in late-stage testing, being used on patients in clinical trials or are being reviewed for approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration. But the search for new cancer medicines can be difficult and costly. For every 10,000 compounds that America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies look at as a potential treatment for a wide array of diseases, only one ever makes it all the way from the laboratory to final FDA approval—a process that can take anywhere from 10 to 12 years and cost, on average, over $1 billion. Even in the face of the current economic downturn, America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies continue to make large investments in new research and development. “A country that can put a man on the moon,” says Billy Tauzin, president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manu- New treatments for cancer and other diseases can only help patients if they have access to them and a new program aims to help provide that access. facturers of America, “can find a cure for cancer.” New treatments for cancer and other diseases, however, only help patients if they have access to these medicines. To help uninsured patients, America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies partner with over 1,300 state, local and national organizations to sponsor the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA). The PPA helps connect patients with more than 475 patient assistance programs— nearly 200 sponsored directly by pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies—that provide free or nearly free medicines to eligible patients. For more information on new medicines being developed, visit www.PhRMA.org. To learn more about the PPA, visit www.PPARX.org or call (888) 4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669).
